MedCard

How to Find a Caregiver in Missouri

  • The Missouri Medical Marijuana program includes provisions for a designated caregiver who may purchase cannabis products or grow medical marijuana on behalf of disabled patients or minors. 
  • Caregivers generally charge money for their services but cannot sell marijuana.
  • Caregivers in Missouri can serve up to three patients and may grow six mature plants per patient. 
  • See the section at the end of the article for links to resources you can use to find a caregiver or sign up to be a caregiver in Missouri.

Missouri recently legalized medical marijuana for individuals suffering from qualifying medical conditions. But this doesn’t mean that marijuana laws are less strict in general. The state has implemented very stringent guidelines for obtaining medical marijuana. The penalties for unauthorized growing and distributing are stiff, as are the consequences for buying cannabis from an unlicensed dealer.

Fortunately, for individuals unable to obtain or grow the healing herb, Missouri has implemented a medical marijuana caregiver program. Designated caregivers are authorized to provide those with a Missouri medical marijuana card with assistance in managing all of the patient’s cannabis needs, including growing marijuana.

To legally hire a cannabis caregiver, medical marijuana patients must be 18 years or older. Qualifying patients must also be physically disabled, unable to procure cannabis themselves, bedridden, hospitalized, or incapable of performing routine activities.

Qualifying patients may designate two caregivers.

Medical marijuana patients under 18 can only access medical marijuana from parents or legal guardians in Missouri. (Keep in mind that a caregiver ID and a grower’s permit are required to grow cannabis.)

There is a definite financial benefit to hiring caregivers who grow cannabis for their patients as marijuana and cannabis products purchased at dispensaries in Missouri can be pricey. Furthermore, patients can requires that their caregiver grows specific strains of marijuana that best meet their needs.

Medical Marijuana Caregivers in Missouri

Before a patient seeks services, they should familiarize themselves with the legal responsibilities of a designated caregiver. Trust between a patient and caregiver is an absolute must when it comes to both the patient’s general well-being and their legal compliance.

Caregivers in Missouri are authorized to both purchase and grow medical marijuana on behalf of up to three patients. They can purchase medical marijuana at dispensaries in Missouri, or they can apply for a grower’s permit to legally cultivate up to six mature cannabis plants. However, caregivers are not allowed to sell medical marijuana.

Authorized caregivers can legally grow up to six flowering plants for no more than three patients for a total of 18 plants. However, if the designated caregiver is also a qualified patient, they can only serve two other patients.

All medical cannabis caregivers are expected to be knowledgeable in regard to both cultivation and the medicinal benefits of the plant. If the caregiver is a novice in this area (such as a parent), they must be willing to educate themselves along with their patients. 

A good caregiver must be cognizant of the need to grow and/or procure organic products, free of chemical and biological contaminants such as pesticides and mold. They should also be willing to have their products lab tested for these harmful substances.

All medical marijuana patients have the right to physically see the plants being cultivated by their caregivers.

How to find a caregiver

It’s not a good idea to just go out and search for medical marijuana caregivers on the internet. There are scammers out there preying on incapacitated patients. It’s best to find an individual through personal connections and recommendations. 

Start with friends and family and other trusted individuals who may be willing to apply for caregiver status. Social media platforms such as Facebook are a good place to search for medical marijuana groups in Missouri. Professional patient-caregiver matching agencies are also an option.

Missouri cannabis industry-related groups may be helpful in matching patients with a caregiver. You can find links to several resources at the end of the article.

One final word of caution. If a patient hires a caregiver who is inexperienced in growing cannabis, they need to be aware that it takes three months at the absolute minimum to grow marijuana. Therefore, at least one of the patient’s caregivers should be willing to purchase products from licensed Missouri dispensaries.

How to become a caregiver

The state of Missouri does not require medical marijuana caregivers to be registered health professionals. A friend, a friend of a friend, a relative, a regular professional caregiver, or another patient can all apply to become cannabis caregivers.

Anyone interested in becoming a primary caregiver must register with the Missouri Medical Marijuana Program Portal. Registration only takes about fifteen minutes to complete. 

  • The first step is creating an account and then filling out the registration form. The cost for registration is $25. An additional $100 fee will allow caregivers to cultivate six plants per patient.
  • It will take approximately 30 days for the DHSS to approve or deny the request, and you will be notified by email.
  • After approval, you’ll receive an official caregiver ID card. The card can be accessed at any time by logging onto your personal Missouri Medical Marijuana Program Registry account. 
  • You will be informed by the department if any vital information is missing from the application. If this is the case, you will have ten days to resubmit the application. It’s a good idea to respond immediately, as the notification is only sent out once.
  • If a response from DHSS is not received within 30 days of application, the caregiver will automatically receive an ID card.
  • If the caregiver intends to cultivate cannabis for their patient(s) they may submit their request when applying for caregiver status, or at a later date. Both primary caregiver and cultivation licenses will expire simultaneously.
  • Caregivers tending to two individuals must submit separate applications for each patient and pay the necessary fees.

If you wish to apply for caregiver status, you will need the following:

  • A detailed description of all security measures that will be employed to restrict access to the cultivation area.
  • Birth certificates, adoption records, or other documents proving that you are indeed the legal guardian or parent of the minor (under 18) patient,
  • An official document signed by the Missouri patient naming you as their primary medical marijuana caregiver

Applying for caregiver Status

If you wish to apply for caregiver status, you will need the following:

  • A detailed description of all security measures that will be employed to restrict access to the cultivation area.
  • Birth certificates, adoption records, or other documents proving that you are indeed the legal guardian or parent of the minor (under 18) patient,
  • An official document signed by the Missouri patient naming you as their primary medical marijuana caregiver
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